Help! My System Won't Boot!

[Shortman]

Ok, this is the first system I've ever built, so I may be making a stupid error somewhere. Here's what I have:
Abit kt7a mobo, 256mb pc133 ram, 1ghz axia, coolermaster hsf, maxtor 40gb hd, sb live! value digital

Here's the problem. Whenever I turn my system on, the fans spin, but nothing else happens. Sometimes the hd will make a noise. I've tried disconnecting all the cards but the video, but I still just get a blank screen. The heatsink is not even warm after running for 10 minutes or more. What's wrong? Btw, when I was installing the heatsink, my screwdriver hit the mobo and left a scratch, I can't tell if I hit anything important or not.

 

[Tacoman667]

First things first, make sure a 3-pin fan is connected to fan header 1 on the motherboard. Then write back. I bet ya this is the problem for sure since you JUST hooked it up.

 

[Amedeo602]

A couple things to check:

1) Make sure the hsf is on the CPU right
2) Make sure the memory is installed correctly (and make sure the memory is good, try using memory known to be good, your memory could just be DOA)

Questions:

1) Do you get any beep codes?
2) Did the screwdriver hit anything or just scratch the surface?

Comments:

1) I just built my first one the other day
2) I friggin HATE having to use a screwdriver to install the hsf!!!!

 

[Shortman]

Ok, there is a 3-pin fan in fan header 1. The HSF appears to be hooked up correctly. Haven't tried different RAM yet. I don't have a speaker, so I have no idea if it's doing anything at all. The problem is, it won't even go into the BIOS. Whenever I turn it on, the monitor shows no input and the processor doesn't get the slightest bit warm, suggesting it's not doing anything. I didn't hit anything with the screwdriver, but I think I may have scratched through the gold landings on the surface of the motherboard.

 

[JEFF]

are you sure your fan is hocked up to 1?it is farther away than #2 header.if so remove ram and reinstall,the 0-1 slot is fartherest away from cpu.
the coolermaster hsf is situated so that the clip where you used the screwdriver is at the rdge of the board,noy next to the resistors.
if so try cold booting holding the insert key,this may take several tries to boot up.
i would also suggest that you remove the sb card until it boots or place in slot 2 and skip 3 and place modem or other pci card in slot 4.
is hd on ide 1? what brand and is the jumper setting correct?

 

[Shortman]

Yes, the fan is in header 1, and I've reinstalled the RAM several times now, even used a different RAM chip. The HSF is on correctly. My system won't even post. I have everything disconnected except for the RAM, cpu, and video card. The processor does not warm up and the monitor sits there idle. This is driving me crazy!

 

[dgk]

Have you got the connectors from the various leds and switches on the front panel connected correctly to the MB? ATX motherboards seem to require that the power switch and led switch be properly connected or it won't boot.

Make sure you have them connected to the right pins and if so, try reversing them. I don't think the reset switch, speaker, or hard drive led is important, just the power switch and led.

 

[vampiro]

What power supply are you using? I recently bought a new case with a 250W Enhance power supply, and I had the same problem. I finally replaced the power supply with my old A-Open 250W, and it booted up fine. I then tried the Enhance supply that seemed to be bad on an slower Athlon and it worked fine. I then figured out I just needed a bigger power supply. I would say try that, since it is a fairly inexpensive part, and you can always use an extra power supply!

 

[Amedeo602]

Or the CPU could be dead...try using a different one or using that one in a different mobo if you can

 

[djcg]

The KT7A board you have has problems. I had the same problem and my biggest mistake was putting up with it for 5 months. Every single day i'd have to go through this spiel and unplug the power cord over and over again, until it finally booted. I've tried replacing everything, then i finally replaced the board. No more problems. I dunno what it was.. but I had a bad egg.

 

[Shortman]

Well, I figured out my problem. I'm such an idiot. The mobo was touching the metal studs on the case and it grounded out. The mobo runs fine outside the case, but it doesn't work when I put it in. Thanks for everyone who helped! I'm gonna go get some plastic screws and washers tomorrow, after that I'll be settin up the BIOS...expect to see more posts from me when I get lost again!

 

[Eil Atan]

I'm sure this will be of no help since your system is new, but I was using old ide cables which didn't have the little notch in the top, and i installed them with the pin 1 on the opposite side, and then I was having the same problem. Fans spin, but no booting, just a blank screen. I'm sure that isn't your problem but you know just throwing something out there since everything else seems to be in order...

 

[RyE]

When i built my first comp with kt7a, i had the same problem. finally after i tried everything, i took everything (mobo, drives, and agp cards; dont put in pci yet.) out of the case and put it on a big cardboard box. set everything up and just connect all the stuff like normal. when i did this everything worked fine. my problem was i put too many of thoes little screw things that support the mobo ( i cant remember the name) in the case and they were i guess conducting electricity from the case to the mobo where it wasnt supposed to go. just try that and see if theres a diff.